Current Affairs 2020, January 13th– February 1st

February 5, 2020
1

Current Affairs
2020, January 13th– February 1st
National News
1. World’s biggest meditation centre in Hyderabad
· World’s largest meditation centre was inaugurated at Kanha Shanti Vanam in Hyderabad, Telangana. This centre is built to mark the 75th anniversary of the formation of Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM) and Heartfulness Institute.
2. RBI Executive Director Janak Raj appoints as MPC Member
· The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) appointed its Executive Director Janak Raj as member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). He will replace M D Patra, who was recently elevated as Deputy Governor of the RBI.
3. Indian Navy Launches ‘Op Vanilla’ to Support Relief Operations in Cyclone-Hit Madagascar
· Indian Navy has launched “Operation Vanilla” to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief at Madagascar. ‘Operation Vanilla’ has been launched to provide assistance to the affected population of Madagascar post devastation caused by Cyclone Diane.
4. Assam Rifles builds war memorial in Nagaland for 357 martyrs
· The Assam Rifles has constructed a combined war memorial in Nagaland. The memorial has been built for the 357 Army and Assam Rifles personnel killed while fighting insurgency in the northeastern state.
5. Indian Coast Guard commissions high speed interceptor boat in Mangaluru.
· Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has commissioned a high-speed interceptor boat C-448 in Mangaluru, Karnataka. This interceptor boat built by L&T (Larsen & Toubro) shipyard.
6. SC allows Centre to bring African cheetah to suitable wildlife habitat in India
· The Supreme Court allowed the Centre to introduce the African cheetah to suitable habitat in India. The rare Indian cheetah is almost extinct in the country, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had filed an application seeking permission for the introduction of the African cheetah from Namibia.
7. Indian Railways commissions 1st waste to energy plant in Bhubaneswar
· Indian Railways has commissioned India’s 1st governmental waste-to-energy plant in Mancheswar Carriage Repair workshop at Bhubaneswar under the East Coast Railway zone.
8. Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray inaugurates Nagpur Metro’s Aqua line
· The Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray inaugurated 18.5 kilometre-long stretch of Nagpur Metro Aqua line of Maha Metro Rail Network.
9. Govt of Odisha launches virtual police station
· The State Government of Odisha has launched a virtual police station where people can lodge complaints from their respective districts without visiting Police Station.
· The e-police station will function from the State Crime Records Bureau in Bhubaneswar.
10. India’s first underwater metro expected to be complete by March 2022
· The country’s 1st underwater metro project is set to complete its East-West Project of Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation, which runs partly under the Hooghly river, West Bengal, by March 2022.
11. 1st indigenous bio-jet fuel aircraft of IAF landed successfully in Leh
· The AN-32 aircraft of Indian Air Force powered with 10% blend of bio-jet fuel took off and landed successfully in Leh airport.
12. India appoints Taranjit Singh Sandhu as India’s next Ambassador to USA
· Taranjit Singh Sandhu takes charge as the new Indian Ambassador to the United States.
· He will succeed Ambassador Harsh Vardhan Shringla.
· Sandhu is the current High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka since January 24, 2017.
13. Meerut to house India’s first war memorial for animals
· Government of India is a plan to set up a war memorial for animals in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.
· It will be India’s first animal war memorial.
· The memorial will come up at the Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC) Centre and College in Meerut.
14. India’s 1st e-waste clinic opens in Bhopal, MP
· India’s first e-waste clinic is being opened in Bhopal, MP.
· The e-waste clinic was inaugurated by C K Mishra (Secretary to the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate change, MoEFCC).
· The e-waste clinic is jointly set up by the Central Pollution Control Board-CPCB and Bhopal Municipal Corporation-BMC.
15. Uttarakhand becomes 1st state to implement agricultural land leasing policy
· Uttarakhand has become the 1st state in the country where the government has made a policy to lease agricultural land.
16. Brazilian President J. M. Bolsonaro has been invited as the Chief Guest on India’s 71st Republic Day celebrations
· On the occasion of 71st Republic Day Parade at Raj Path, New Delhi on 26 January, President of Brazil Jair Messias Bolsonaro has been invited as the chief guest.
17. Meghalaya celebrates 48th anniversary of its statehood day on 21 January
· Meghalaya celebrates the 48th anniversary of its statehood day on 21 January and the celebrations will continue till the Republic Day celebration.
18. Uttar Pradesh Government launches Mukhyamantri Krishak Durghatna Kalyan Yojana
· Mukhyamantri Krishak Durghatna Kalyan Yojana has been launched by the government of Uttar Pradesh to provide financial assistance to the family of farmers who die or become handicapped while working in fields.
19. IAF inducts its 1st squadron of Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft
· The Indian Air Force has inducted its 1st squadron of Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft.
· This aircraft is carrying the BrahMos missiles in the South at its Thanjavur based in Tamil Nadu.
20. India successfully test-fired K-4 Ballistic Missile from Andhra Pradesh
· The nuclear-capable K-4 ballistic missile has been successfully test-fired by India at Vizag coast in Andhra Pradesh.
· The nuclear-capable missile having the range of 3,500-kilometre was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
21. NITI Aayog and UT of Ladakh sign MoU to promote development in Ladakh
· NITI Aayog and Union Territory of Ladakh sign MoU for Development of Infrastructure Projects in Ladakh.
· Under this agreement, NITI Aayog will be supporting the UT’s administration through its key initiative ‘Development Support Services to States for Infrastructure Projects (D3S-i)’.
22. Captain Tania Shergill become 1st Woman to lead Republic Day contingent
· Indian Army Officer Captain Tania Shergill will be the first woman parade adjutant for the Republic Day parade 2020. Tania Shergill commissioned in March 2017 from the Officer Training Academy, Chennai. She is an electronics and communications graduate.
23. Anand Prakash Maheshwari to Director General of CRPF
· Anand Prakash Maheshwari has appointed Director General (DG) of Central Reserve Police Force.
· Anand Prakash Maheshwari is an IPS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre.
· This decision was taken due to the retirement of former head (DG) of CRPF, Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar.
24. Sardar Patel’s Statue of Unity place in ‘8 Wonders of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’
· Sardar Patel’s 182 meter tall Statue of Unity in Gujarat included in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s ‘8 Wonders of SCO’ list. S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister has announced today.
ECONOMY
1. Google announces $1-million grant to promote news literacy in India
· Google announced a 1-million USD grant to promote news literacy among Indians. According to Google, the grant will work towards building a strong network of senior reporters and journalists, who will counteract fake news in India.
2. BSE signs licensing agreement with ICE Futures Europe
· The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has signed a licensing agreement with Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) Futures Europe. Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) Futures Europe is an operator of global exchanges and clearinghouses.
3. Union Budget 2020-21 is being presented by FM Nirmala Sitharaman
· Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is presenting the Union Budget 2020 for the 2nd time in a row.
· The Union Budget is the yearly financial report estimating the income and expenditure presented to outline future policies to be adopted by the government for sustainable growth and development.
· The Economic Survey 2019-20 was released on 31st January 2020 by the Chief Economic Advisor of India, Krishnamurthy Subramanian.
· The GDP growth of India’s forecasts at between 6 to 6.5% for the fiscal year starting April. Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas was the tagline of government mentioned by Finance Minister Nirmala Sithraman in her speech.
This time 3 themes of Union Budget 2020-21:
· Aspirational India,
· Economic development for all, and
· Develop a caring society
4. IBA appoints Sunil Mehta its chief executive
· Sunil Mehta took over as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA).
· He will replace VG Kannan, who resigned from office as chief executive of IBA on December 31, 2019.
5. GoI, Government of Maharashtra and World Bank has signed USD 210 million loan agreement
· A USD 210 million loan agreement has been signed by the Government of India and the Government of Maharashtra & the World Bank for Maharashtra Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project.
· The loan amount will be funded by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).
· The loan will have a 6-year grace period with a maturity period of 13.5 years.
6. Vodafone m-pesa’s Certificate of Authorisation cancelled by RBI
· The Certificate of Authorisation (CoA) of Vodafone m-pesa has been cancelled by Reserve Bank of India. Vodafone Idea closed the m-pesa after getting merged with the Aditya Birla Idea Payments Bank Limited in 2019.
7. RBI has raised the Investment limit for FPIs in government & corporate bonds to 30%
· The Reserve Bank of India has increased the investment limit for Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) from 20% to 30% in government & corporate bonds.
8. UN lowers India’s growth forecast for FY20 to 5.7%
· The United Nations has lowered India’s GDP growth rate to 5.7% for the Fiscal Year 2019-20 in its World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2020 report.
· UN has lowered the growth rate to 5.7% from 7.6% which it projected in its WESP 2019 report.
9. ICICI Bank introduces cardless cash withdrawal facility through ATMs
· ICICI Bank has rolled out “Cardless Cash Withdrawal” service through ATM.
· The “Cardless Cash Withdrawal” service can be used for cash withdrawal having a per day transaction limit of Rs 20,000.
10. IMF lowers India’s 2019 growth forecast to 4.8% from 6.1%
· The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has estimated India’s growth rate for the fiscal year 2019 as 4.8%.
· IMF has also projected India’s growth rate as 5.8% in 2020 and 6.5% in 2021.
11. Indian Oil Signs MoU with National Petroleum Authority of Ghana
· Indian Oil has signed an MoU with Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority for proper execution of the Ghana’s National LPG Promotion Policy.
· According to the MoU, Indian Oil will provide its technical expertise and assistance to Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority.
12. Challa Sreenivasulu Setty appointed managing director of SBI
· The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet has appointed Challa Sreenivasulu Setty as the Managing Director of the State Bank of India.
13. New MD and CEOs for Bank of Baroda, Bank of India and Canara Bank
Bank
Name
Post
Canara Bank
Lingam Venkat Prabhakar
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO)
Bank of Baroda
Sanjiv Chadha
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO)
Bank of India
Atanu Kumar Das
Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO)
14. Adani Capital acquires Essel Finance’s MSME lending business
· Essel Finance’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) loan business has been acquired by Adani Capital Private Ltd.
· Through the acquisition, Adani Capital has secured a loan book of around Rs 145 crore.
15. Bharti Airtel receives approval from Telecom department to raise FDI in the company to 100%
· The Bharti Airtel Ltd has received the approval from the Telecom department to increase the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the company to 100%.
· The approval will enable Bharti Airtel company to raise more funds as per its requirement.
16. RBI stands at 6th position in buying gold abroad in World Gold Council report
· “World Gold Outlook 2020” has been released by World Gold Council in which it placed Reserve Bank of India on 6th position in the largest buyer of sovereign gold abroad.
17. WEF begins its 50th Annual Meeting in Davos
· The 50th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum begins in Davos, Switzerland.
· This year 50th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum theme will be “Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World”.
18. Russia to deliver all S-400 air defense systems to India by 2025
· Russia has started production of S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile systems for India.
· All five units will be delivered to India by 2025. The S-400 air defense missile systems are among the best in the world.
19. Indian Railways’ SCR zone signs MoU with SBI
· The South Central Zone of the Indian Railways has signed an MoU with the State Bank of India. According to the MoU, the doorstep banking facility will be provided at 585 Railway Stations of the South Central Zone.
· The “doorstep banking” facility will enable direct pickup of earnings from the railway stations and will save the complex activity of cash movement through cash safes by trains.
20. World Bank & GoI signs MoU for loan of Assam Inland Water Transport Project
· World Bank & GoI signs MoU for loan of $88 million of Assam Inland Water Transport Project.
· The loan agreement seeks to modernize the Assam’s passenger ferry sector by improving the infrastructure and its services.
· The government ferries are operated by the Assam Shipping Company (ASC) while the terminals and terminal services are provided by the Assam Ports Company (APC) in the state of Assam.
· The $88 million agreement will provide technically better designed terminals and energy-efficient vessels to make the ferry services more efficient, modern and safe mode of river transport system.
21. India will get USD 1 billion investment from e-commerce company Amazon
· The e-commerce company, Amazon has announced the incremental investment of 1 USD bn in India.
· The investment by Amazon will have the prime objective of digitising the small and medium businesses (SMB’s) in India.
22. SEBI defer deadline to April 2022 for split “Chairman and Managing Director” post
· Securities and Exchange Board of India stock market regulator has deferred the deadline for the separation of the posts of Chairman & Managing Director or chief executive officer (CEO) for 500 listed companies by 2 years.
· The date of implementation of the above regulatory provision has been deferred to 1st April 2022.
23. Indian Oil launches special class diesel for Navy
· Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has developed a special class diesel conforming to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) grade for use in ships and vessels of Indian Navy.
· Vice Admiral GS Pabby has launched the Upgraded High Flash High-Speed Diesel (HFHSD-IN 512).
24. Michael Patra appointed as the Deputy Governor of Reserve Bank
International News
1. President Trump inks USMCA North American trade deal
· US President Donald Trump has signed the new United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) North American trade pact with Canada and Mexico into law.
2. Brexit deal approved by the European Parliament
· The European Union parliament has approved United Kingdom Brexit deal. European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly to approve the Brexit deal with London, clearing the final hurdle for Britain’s departure from the EU.
3. Nepal creates Guinness World Record for highest altitude fashion show event
· Nepal has created a new Guinness World Record for organizing highest altitude Fashion Show on the earth.
· The Mount Everest Fashion Runway was held at 5340 meters (17515 feet) elevation at Kala Patthar, near Everest base camp. 18 supermodels from 10 different countries walked the ramp to create history.
4. Qatar names Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdelaziz Al Thani new PM
· Qatar’s emir has appointed Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdelaziz Al Thani as new Prime Minister. He will replace Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani.
5. Global health Emergency declared over Coronavirus by WHO
· World Health Organization has declared an international emergency over the novel coronavirus from China.
· The organization has declared an emergency as the disease has spread to 18 other countries apart from China where it originated.
6. Slovenian PM Marjan Sarec resigns
7. Greece’s parliament elects Katerina Sakellaropoulou as its 1st woman president
· Katerina Sakellaropoulou has been elected the Greece’s first female president.
8. Microsoft vows will be carbon negative by 2030
· The US tech giant Microsoft has announced that it would become “carbon negative” by year 2030. Microsoft has also announced its investment of $1 billion in a “climate innovation fund” for technology for carbon capture and removal.
9. World’s shortest man Khagendra Thapa Magar passes away
10. Henley Passport Index 2020
· Henley Passport Index 2020 has been released. The ranking report is based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Key findings of the Index
· The list was topped by Japan. Japan has been topping the Index for three years continuously. Japan can access now 191 countries.
· Japan was now followed by Singapore, Germany, and South Korea.
· The Indian passport ranked 84th, along with Tajikistan and Mauritania.
· Afghanistan (107) was among the world’s worst passports.
· The top 10 most powerful passports for 2020 are Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Germany, Italy, Finland, Spain, USA and UK, Luxembourg, Denmark.
11. India to host SCO heads of govt meeting later this year
· India to host the 19th Edition of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting 2020.The meeting is held annually at the Prime Minister’s level.
12. Robert Abela has been elected as Malta’s Prime minister
· Robert Abela has won the elections to become the Prime Minister of Malta. He has become the 14th prime minister of Malta after defeating Chris Fearne.
13. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev steps down
· The Prime Minister of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev has resigned to lead the Russia’s Security Council.
14. Treasury Department of USA removes China from “currency manipulator” list
· The Treasury Department of United States of America has been removed China from the designation as “currency manipulator“.
Sports
1. India hockey captain Rani Rampal named 2019 World Games Athlete of the Year
· Indian women’s team captain Rani Rampal became the 1st-ever hockey player worldwide to win the prestigious ‘World Games Athlete of the Year’ award 2019.
2. Esow Alben bags gold at Six Day Berlin cycling tournament
· Indian cyclist Esow Alben has bagged a gold in the men’s Keirin individual event of the Six-Day Berlin Tournament.
3. Goa 2020 National Games unveils ‘Rubigula’ as official mascot
· ‘Rubigula’, Flame-Throated Bulbul, has been unveiled as the official mascot for the Goa 2020 National Games in Panaji, Goa.
· The Flame-Throated Bulbul is the state bird of Goa.
· Goa will be hosting the 36th edition of the National Games from 20th October to 4th November 2020.
4. NBA legend Kobe Bryant passes away
· National Basketball Association (NBA) legend Kobe Bryant passed away in a helicopter crash with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna.
· Bryant was a 5-time NBA champion and 2-time Olympic gold medallist is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players in history.
5. World Archery lifts suspension on India
· The World Archery has lifted the suspension on India and hence allowed the Indian Archers to represent India in the upcoming International tournaments.
· The world body has advised the Archery Association of India to comply with the rules set up by the World Archery constitution to ensure the good governance in the sport.
6. Maharashtra has topped the medal tally of Khelo India Youth Games 2020
· Maharashtra has topped the medal tally of the 3rd season of the Khelo India Youth Games concluded in Guwahati.
· The state clinched 256 medals including 78 gold while Haryana stood at 2nd position with a total of 200 medals.
7. Shooters Divyansh, Apruvi win gold at Meyton Cup in Austria
· Indian shooters Apurvi Chandela and Divyansh Singh Panwar have won the gold medal in Meyton Cup held in Austria.
8. Yogeshwar Dutt & Deepa Malik included in All India Council of Sports
· Paralympian Deepa Malik, wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt have been inducted in the All India Council of Sports along with shooter Anjali Bhagwat, footballer Renedy Singh, mountaineer Bachendri Pal and former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.
9. Arjun Munda becomes the president of Archery Association of India
· Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda has become the President of the suspended Archery Association of India (AAI) after the elections held as per the Delhi High Court order.
10. Vinesh Phogat shines with gold medal at the Rome Ranking Series
· Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat defeated Ecuador’s Luisa Elizabeth Melendres in the 53 kg category to win the gold medal at the 2020 season of the Rome Ranking Series held in Rome.
11. ICC U-19 World Cup Cricket begins in South Africa
12. ICC Awards 2019: Check Complete list of Winners
· Ben Stokes has won the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for Best Cricketer of the Year in ICC annual awards 2019
· Pat Cummins has won the award for Test Cricketer of the Year in ICC annual awards 2019.
· Rohit Sharma has won the award for ODI Cricketer of the Year in ICC annual awards 2019.
Books and Authors
1. Mukherjee releases Yashwant Sinha’s autobiography
· Former President Pranab Mukherjee released the autobiography of Yashwant Sinha titled ‘Relentless’. The book describes Sinha’s journey from normal life to a high political powered life.
Awards
1. Theatre artiste Sanjana Kapoor will receive the prestigious French honour
· Well-known theatre person, Sanjana Kapoor received the prestigious French honour of ‘Chevalier dans lOrdre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) for her outstanding contribution to the field of theatre.
2. Abhijit Banerjee conferred with D Litt by Calcutta University
· Nobel laureate Abhijit Vinayak Banerjee conferred the honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) by Calcutta University at its annual convocation in Kolkata.
3. Assam tableau wins first prize at 71st Republic Day parade
· The Tableaux of Assam wins the 1st prize at the Republic Day Parade, 2020 among the States/Union Territories. The theme of Assam’s tableau was “Land of unique craftsmanship and culture”.
4. Grammy Awards 2020 Announced
The 62nd Annual Grammy Awards announced on January 26, 2020. The Awards ceremony was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Here is the list of winners of Grammy Awards 2020:
S.No.
Category
Winner
1
Album Of The Year
When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (Billie Eilish)
2
Record Of The Year
Bad Guy (Billie Eilish)
3
Best New Artist
Billie Eilish
4
Best Rap Album
Igor (Tyler, The Creator)
5
Best R&B Album Winner
Ventura (Anderson .Paak)
6
Best Rap Song
A Lot
7
Best Country Album
While I’m Livin’ (Tanya Tucker)
8
Song Of The Year
Bad Guy ( Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas O’Connell)
9
Best Rock Album
Social Cues (Cage The Elephant)
10
Best Rock Song
This Land (Gary Clark Jr.)
11
Best Dance/Electronic Album
No Geography (The Chemical Brothers)
12
Producer Of The Year, Classical
Blanton Alspaugh
13
Best Music Video
Old Town Road
14
Best Country Song
Bring My Flowers Now
15
Best Folk Album
Patty Griffin
16
Best Comedy Album
Sticks & Stones (Dave Chappelle)
5. Dr.N Kumar conferred with Harit Ratna Award 2019
· Dr N Kumar, Vice-Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, has been conferred ‘Harit Ratna Award 2019’.
· This award is organised by the All India Agricultural Students Association.
6. Padma Awards 2020 Announced:
Padma Vibhushan
S.No
Name
Field
State/Country
1
Shri George Fernandes (Posthumous)
Public Affairs
Bihar
2
Shri Arun Jaitley
(Posthumous)
Public Affairs
Delhi
3
Sir Anerood Jugnauth GCSK
Public Affairs
Mauritius
4
Smt. M. C. Mary Kom
Sports
Manipur
5
Shri Chhannulal Mishra
Art
Uttar Pradesh
6
Smt. Sushma Swaraj (Posthumous)
Public Affairs
Delhi
7
Sri Vishveshateertha Swamiji Sri Pejavara Adhokhaja Matha Udupi (Posthumous)
Others-Spiritualism
Karnataka
Padma Bhushan
S.No.
Name
Field
State/Country
1
Shri M. Mumtaz Ali (Sri M)
Others-Spiritualism
Kerala
2
Shri Syed Muazzem Ali (Posthumous)
Public Affairs
Bangladesh
3
Shri Muzaffar Hussain Baig
Public Affairs
Jammu and Kashmir
4
Shri Ajoy Chakravorty
Art
West Bengal
5
Shri Manoj Das
Literature and Education
Puducherry
6
Shri Balkrishna Doshi
Others-Architecture
Gujarat
7
Ms. Krishnammal Jagannathan
Social Work
Tamil Nadu
8
Shri S. C. Jamir
Public Affairs
Nagaland
9
Shri Anil Prakash Joshi
Social Work
Uttarakhand
10
Dr. Tsering Landol
Medicine
Ladakh
11
Shri Anand Mahindra
Trade and Industry
Maharashtra
12
Shri Neelakanta Ramakrishna Madhava Menon (Posthumous)
Public Affairs
Kerala
13
Shri Manohar Gopalkrishna Prabhu Parrikar (Posthumous)
Public Affairs
Goa
14
Prof. Jagdish Sheth
Literature and Education
USA
15
Ms. P. V. Sindhu
Sports
Telangana
16
Shri Venu Srinivasan
Trade and Industry
Tamil Nadu
Padma Shri
S.No.
Name
Field
State/Country
1
Guru Shashadhar Acharya
Art
Jharkhand
2
Dr. Yogi Aeron
Medicine
Uttarakhand
3
Shri Jai Prakash Agarwal
Trade and Industry
Delhi
4
Shri Jagdish Lal Ahuja
Social Work
Punjab
5
Kazi Masum Akhtar
Literature and Education
West Bengal
6
Ms. Gloria Arieira
Literature and Education
Brazil
7
Khan Zaheerkhan Bakhtiyarkhan
Sports
Maharashtra
8
Dr. Padmavathy Bandopadhyay
Medicine
Uttar Pradesh
9
Dr. Sushovan Banerjee
Medicine
West Bengal
10
Dr. Digambar Behera
Medicine
Chandigarh
11
Dr. Damayanti Beshra
Literature and Education
Odisha
12
Shri Pawar Popatrao Bhaguji
Social Work
Maharashtra
13
Shri Himmata Ram Bhambhu
Social Work
Rajasthan
14
Shri Sanjeev Bikhchandani
Trade and Industry
Uttar Pradesh
15
Shri Gafurbhai M. Bilakhia
Trade and Industry
Gujarat
16
Shri Bob Blackman
Public Affairs
United Kingdom
17
Ms. Indira P. P. Bora
Art
Assam
18
Shri Madan Singh Chauhan
Art
Chhattisgarh
19
Ms. Usha Chaumar
Social Work
Rajasthan
20
Shri Lil Bahadur Chettri
Literature and Education
Assam
21
Ms. Lalitha & Ms. Saroja Chidambaram (Duo)*
Art
Tamil Nadu
22
Dr. Vajira Chitrasena
Art
Sri Lanka
23
Dr. Purushottam Dadheech
Art
MP
24
Shri Utsav Charan Das
Art
Odisha
25
Prof. Indra Dassanayake(Posthumous)
Literature and Education
Sri Lanka
26
Shri H. M. Desai
Literature and Education
Gujarat
27
Shri Manohar Devadoss
Art
Tamil Nadu
28
Ms. Oinam Bembem Devi
Sports
Manipur
29
Ms. Lia Diskin
Social Work
Brazil
30
Shri M. P. Ganesh
Sports
Karnataka
31
Dr. Bangalore Gangadhar
Medicine
Karnataka
32
Dr. Raman Gangakhedkar
Science and Engineering
Maharashtra
33
Shri Barry Gardiner
Public Affairs
United Kingdom
34
Shri Chewang Motup Goba
Trade and Industry
Ladakh
35
Shri Bharat Goenka
Trade and Industry
Karnataka
36
Shri Yadla Gopalarao
Art
Andhra Pradesh
37
Shri Mitrabhanu Gountia
Art
Odisha
38
Ms. Tulasi Gowda
Social Work
Karnataka
39
Shri Sujoy K. Guha
Science and Engineering
Bihar
40
Shri Harekala Hajabba
Social Work
Karnataka
41
Shri Enamul Haque
Others-Archaeology
Bangladesh
42
Shri Madhu Mansuri Hasmukh
Art
Jharkhand
43
Shri Abdul Jabbar(Posthumous)
Social Work
MP
44
Shri Bimal Kumar Jain
Social Work
Bihar
45
Ms. Meenakshi Jain
Literature and Education
Delhi
46
Shri Nemnath Jain
Trade and Industry
MP
47
Ms. Shanti Jain
Art
Bihar
48
Shri Sudhir Jain
Science and Engineering
Gujarat
49
Shri Benichandra Jamatia
Literature and Education
Tripura
50
Shri K. V. Sampath Kumar & Ms. Vidushi Jayalakshmi K.S. (Duo)*
Literature and Education-Journalism
Karnataka
51
Shri Karan Johar
Art
Maharashtra
52
Dr. Leela Joshi
Medicine
MP
53
Ms. Sarita Joshi
Art
Maharashtra
54
Shri C. Kamlova
Literature and Education
Mizoram
55
Dr. Ravi Kannan R.
Medicine
Assam
56
Ms. Ekta Kapoor
Art
Maharashtra
57
Shri Yazdi Naoshirwan Karanjia
Art
Gujarat
58
Shri Narayan J. Joshi Karayal
Literature and Education
Gujarat
59
Dr. Narindar Nath Khanna
Medicine
Uttar Pradesh
60
Shri Naveen Khanna
Science and Engineering
Delhi
61
Shri S. P. Kothari
Literature and Education
USA
62
Shri V. K. Munusamy Krishnapakthar
Art
Puducherry
63
Shri M. K. Kunjol
Social Work
Kerala
64
Shri Manmohan Mahapatra (Posthumous)
Art
Odisha
65
Ustad Anwar Khan Mangniyar
Art
Rajasthan
66
Shri Kattungal Subramaniam Manilal
Science and Engineering
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67
Shri Munna Master
Art
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68
Prof. Abhiraj Rajendra Mishra
Literature and Education
HP
69
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Literature and Education
Odisha
70
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Medicine
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71
Dr. Prithwindra Mukherjee
Literature and Education
France
72
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Social Work
Arunachal Pradesh
73
Shri Manilal Nag
Art
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74
Shri N. Chandrasekharan Nair
Literature and Education

Current Affairs

2020, January 13th– February 1st

National News

1. World’s biggest meditation centre in Hyderabad

· World’s largest meditation centre was inaugurated at Kanha Shanti Vanam in Hyderabad, Telangana. This centre is built to mark the 75th anniversary of the formation of Shri Ram Chandra Mission (SRCM) and Heartfulness Institute.

2. RBI Executive Director Janak Raj appoints as MPC Member

· The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) appointed its Executive Director Janak Raj as member of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). He will replace M D Patra, who was recently elevated as Deputy Governor of the RBI.

3. Indian Navy Launches ‘Op Vanilla’ to Support Relief Operations in Cyclone-Hit Madagascar

· Indian Navy has launched “Operation Vanilla” to provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief at Madagascar. ‘Operation Vanilla’ has been launched to provide assistance to the affected population of Madagascar post devastation caused by Cyclone Diane.

4. Assam Rifles builds war memorial in Nagaland for 357 martyrs

· The Assam Rifles has constructed a combined war memorial in Nagaland. The memorial has been built for the 357 Army and Assam Rifles personnel killed while fighting insurgency in the northeastern state.

· The Supreme Court allowed the Centre to introduce the African cheetah to suitable habitat in India. The rare Indian cheetah is almost extinct in the country, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had filed an application seeking permission for the introduction of the African cheetah from Namibia.

· Mukhyamantri Krishak Durghatna Kalyan Yojana has been launched by the government of Uttar Pradesh to provide financial assistance to the family of farmers who die or become handicapped while working in fields.

19. IAF inducts its 1st squadron of Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft

· The Indian Air Force has inducted its 1st squadron of Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft.

· This aircraft is carrying the BrahMos missiles in the South at its Thanjavur based in Tamil Nadu.

· The nuclear-capable K-4 ballistic missile has been successfully test-fired by India at Vizag coast in Andhra Pradesh.

· The nuclear-capable missile having the range of 3,500-kilometre was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

21. NITI Aayog and UT of Ladakh sign MoU to promote development in Ladakh

· NITI Aayog and Union Territory of Ladakh sign MoU for Development of Infrastructure Projects in Ladakh.

· Under this agreement, NITI Aayog will be supporting the UT’s administration through its key initiative ‘Development Support Services to States for Infrastructure Projects (D3S-i)’.

22. Captain Tania Shergill become 1st Woman to lead Republic Day contingent

· Indian Army Officer Captain Tania Shergill will be the first woman parade adjutant for the Republic Day parade 2020. Tania Shergill commissioned in March 2017 from the Officer Training Academy, Chennai. She is an electronics and communications graduate.

· Google announced a 1-million USD grant to promote news literacy among Indians. According to Google, the grant will work towards building a strong network of senior reporters and journalists, who will counteract fake news in India.

2. BSE signs licensing agreement with ICE Futures Europe

· The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) has signed a licensing agreement with Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) Futures Europe. Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) Futures Europe is an operator of global exchanges and clearinghouses.

3. Union Budget 2020-21 is being presented by FM Nirmala Sitharaman

· Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is presenting the Union Budget 2020 for the 2nd time in a row.

· The Union Budget is the yearly financial report estimating the income and expenditure presented to outline future policies to be adopted by the government for sustainable growth and development.

· The Economic Survey 2019-20 was released on 31st January 2020 by the Chief Economic Advisor of India, Krishnamurthy Subramanian.

· The GDP growth of India’s forecasts at between 6 to 6.5% for the fiscal year starting April. Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas was the tagline of government mentioned by Finance Minister Nirmala Sithraman in her speech.

This time 3 themes of Union Budget 2020-21:

· Aspirational India,

· Economic development for all, and

· Develop a caring society

4. IBA appoints Sunil Mehta its chief executive

· Sunil Mehta took over as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA).

· He will replace VG Kannan, who resigned from office as chief executive of IBA on December 31, 2019.

5. GoI, Government of Maharashtra and World Bank has signed USD 210 million loan agreement

· A USD 210 million loan agreement has been signed by the Government of India and the Government of Maharashtra & the World Bank for Maharashtra Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project.

· The loan amount will be funded by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).

· The loan will have a 6-year grace period with a maturity period of 13.5 years.

6. Vodafone m-pesa’s Certificate of Authorisation cancelled by RBI

· The Certificate of Authorisation (CoA) of Vodafone m-pesa has been cancelled by Reserve Bank of India. Vodafone Idea closed the m-pesa after getting merged with the Aditya Birla Idea Payments Bank Limited in 2019.

7. RBI has raised the Investment limit for FPIs in government & corporate bonds to 30%

· The Reserve Bank of India has increased the investment limit for Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) from 20% to 30% in government & corporate bonds.

8. UN lowers India’s growth forecast for FY20 to 5.7%

· The United Nations has lowered India’s GDP growth rate to 5.7% for the Fiscal Year 2019-20 in its World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2020 report.

· UN has lowered the growth rate to 5.7% from 7.6% which it projected in its WESP 2019 report.

· ICICI Bank has rolled out “Cardless Cash Withdrawal” service through ATM.

· The “Cardless Cash Withdrawal” service can be used for cash withdrawal having a per day transaction limit of Rs 20,000.

10. IMF lowers India’s 2019 growth forecast to 4.8% from 6.1%

· The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has estimated India’s growth rate for the fiscal year 2019 as 4.8%.

· IMF has also projected India’s growth rate as 5.8% in 2020 and 6.5% in 2021.

11. Indian Oil Signs MoU with National Petroleum Authority of Ghana

· Indian Oil has signed an MoU with Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority for proper execution of the Ghana’s National LPG Promotion Policy.

· According to the MoU, Indian Oil will provide its technical expertise and assistance to Ghana’s National Petroleum Authority.

12. Challa Sreenivasulu Setty appointed managing director of SBI

· The Appointment Committee of the Cabinet has appointed Challa Sreenivasulu Setty as the Managing Director of the State Bank of India.

13. New MD and CEOs for Bank of Baroda, Bank of India and Canara Bank

Bank

Name

Post

Canara Bank

Lingam Venkat Prabhakar

Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO)

Bank of Baroda

Sanjiv Chadha

Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO)

Bank of India

Atanu Kumar Das

Managing Director(MD) & Chief Executive Officer(CEO)

14. Adani Capital acquires Essel Finance’s MSME lending business

· Essel Finance’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) loan business has been acquired by Adani Capital Private Ltd.

· Through the acquisition, Adani Capital has secured a loan book of around Rs 145 crore.

15. Bharti Airtel receives approval from Telecom department to raise FDI in the company to 100%

· The Bharti Airtel Ltd has received the approval from the Telecom department to increase the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the company to 100%.

· The approval will enable Bharti Airtel company to raise more funds as per its requirement.

16. RBI stands at 6th position in buying gold abroad in World Gold Council report

· “World Gold Outlook 2020” has been released by World Gold Council in which it placed Reserve Bank of India on 6th position in the largest buyer of sovereign gold abroad.

17. WEF begins its 50th Annual Meeting in Davos

· The 50th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum begins in Davos, Switzerland.

· This year 50th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum theme will be “Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World”.

18. Russia to deliver all S-400 air defense systems to India by 2025

· Russia has started production of S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile systems for India.

· All five units will be delivered to India by 2025. The S-400 air defense missile systems are among the best in the world.

19. Indian Railways’ SCR zone signs MoU with SBI

· The South Central Zone of the Indian Railways has signed an MoU with the State Bank of India. According to the MoU, the doorstep banking facility will be provided at 585 Railway Stations of the South Central Zone.

· The “doorstep banking” facility will enable direct pickup of earnings from the railway stations and will save the complex activity of cash movement through cash safes by trains.

· Securities and Exchange Board of India stock market regulator has deferred the deadline for the separation of the posts of Chairman & Managing Director or chief executive officer (CEO) for 500 listed companies by 2 years.

· The date of implementation of the above regulatory provision has been deferred to 1st April 2022.

23. Indian Oil launches special class diesel for Navy

· Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has developed a special class diesel conforming to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) grade for use in ships and vessels of Indian Navy.

· US President Donald Trump has signed the new United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) North American trade pact with Canada and Mexico into law.

2. Brexit deal approved by the European Parliament

· The European Union parliament has approved United Kingdom Brexit deal. European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly to approve the Brexit deal with London, clearing the final hurdle for Britain’s departure from the EU.

3. Nepal creates Guinness World Record for highest altitude fashion show event

· Nepal has created a new Guinness World Record for organizing highest altitude Fashion Show on the earth.

· The Mount Everest Fashion Runway was held at 5340 meters (17515 feet) elevation at Kala Patthar, near Everest base camp. 18 supermodels from 10 different countries walked the ramp to create history.

· Katerina Sakellaropoulou has been elected the Greece’s first female president.

8. Microsoft vows will be carbon negative by 2030

· The US tech giant Microsoft has announced that it would become “carbon negative” by year 2030. Microsoft has also announced its investment of $1 billion in a “climate innovation fund” for technology for carbon capture and removal.

9. World’s shortest man Khagendra Thapa Magar passes away

10. Henley Passport Index 2020

· Henley Passport Index 2020 has been released. The ranking report is based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Key findings of the Index

· The list was topped by Japan. Japan has been topping the Index for three years continuously. Japan can access now 191 countries.

· Japan was now followed by Singapore, Germany, and South Korea.

· The Indian passport ranked 84th, along with Tajikistan and Mauritania.

· Afghanistan (107) was among the world’s worst passports.

· The top 10 most powerful passports for 2020 are Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Germany, Italy, Finland, Spain, USA and UK, Luxembourg, Denmark.

11. India to host SCO heads of govt meeting later this year

· India to host the 19th Edition of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting 2020.The meeting is held annually at the Prime Minister’s level.

12. Robert Abela has been elected as Malta’s Prime minister

· Robert Abela has won the elections to become the Prime Minister of Malta. He has become the 14th prime minister of Malta after defeating Chris Fearne.

13. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev steps down

· The Prime Minister of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev has resigned to lead the Russia’s Security Council.

· Bryant was a 5-time NBA champion and 2-time Olympic gold medallist is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players in history.

5. World Archery lifts suspension on India

· The World Archery has lifted the suspension on India and hence allowed the Indian Archers to represent India in the upcoming International tournaments.

· The world body has advised the Archery Association of India to comply with the rules set up by the World Archery constitution to ensure the good governance in the sport.

6. Maharashtra has topped the medal tally of Khelo India Youth Games 2020

· Maharashtra has topped the medal tally of the 3rd season of the Khelo India Youth Games concluded in Guwahati.

· The state clinched 256 medals including 78 gold while Haryana stood at 2nd position with a total of 200 medals.

7. Shooters Divyansh, Apruvi win gold at Meyton Cup in Austria

· Indian shooters Apurvi Chandela and Divyansh Singh Panwar have won the gold medal in Meyton Cup held in Austria.

8. Yogeshwar Dutt & Deepa Malik included in All India Council of Sports

· Paralympian Deepa Malik, wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt have been inducted in the All India Council of Sports along with shooter Anjali Bhagwat, footballer Renedy Singh, mountaineer Bachendri Pal and former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.

9. Arjun Munda becomes the president of Archery Association of India

· Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda has become the President of the suspended Archery Association of India (AAI) after the elections held as per the Delhi High Court order.

10. Vinesh Phogat shines with gold medal at the Rome Ranking Series

· Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat defeated Ecuador’s Luisa Elizabeth Melendres in the 53 kg category to win the gold medal at the 2020 season of the Rome Ranking Series held in Rome.

11. ICC U-19 World Cup Cricket begins in South Africa

12. ICC Awards 2019: Check Complete list of Winners

· Ben Stokes has won the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for Best Cricketer of the Year in ICC annual awards 2019

· Pat Cummins has won the award for Test Cricketer of the Year in ICC annual awards 2019.

· Rohit Sharma has won the award for ODI Cricketer of the Year in ICC annual awards 2019.

Books and Authors

1. Mukherjee releases Yashwant Sinha’s autobiography

· Former President Pranab Mukherjee released the autobiography of Yashwant Sinha titled ‘Relentless’. The book describes Sinha’s journey from normal life to a high political powered life.

· Well-known theatre person, Sanjana Kapoor received the prestigious French honour of ‘Chevalier dans lOrdre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) for her outstanding contribution to the field of theatre.

2. Abhijit Banerjee conferred with D Litt by Calcutta University

· Nobel laureate Abhijit Vinayak Banerjee conferred the honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) by Calcutta University at its annual convocation in Kolkata.

3. Assam tableau wins first prize at 71st Republic Day parade

· The Tableaux of Assam wins the 1st prize at the Republic Day Parade, 2020 among the States/Union Territories. The theme of Assam’s tableau was “Land of unique craftsmanship and culture”.

4. Grammy Awards 2020 Announced

The 62nd Annual Grammy Awards announced on January 26, 2020. The Awards ceremony was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

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